Allie Long and Megan Rapinoe Named to U.S. WNT World Cup Roster
U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis announced her 23-player World Cup roster on Tuesday. The roster includes Reign FC forward Megan Rapinoe and midfielder Allie Long.
Rapinoe recently earned her 150th cap for the U.S. WNT, scoring a goal in a 5-3 win over Australia on April 4. The 33-year-old represented the United States at the 2011 and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as well as the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.
“It feels incredible,” Rapinoe said. “You could go to 10 World Cups in a row and every one is going to be the most exciting thing that’s ever happened. They all feel totally different. It doesn’t feel like ‘here we go again,’ at all. It’s a totally different squad. I’m so thrilled to be a part of another one and hopefully bring home some hardware.”
The selection marks Long’s first World Cup call-up. The 31-year-old recently made her 42nd appearance for the Stars and Stripes, appearing as a substitute in a 6-0 win over Belgium on April 7. Long has previously helped the U.S. WNT to victories in the 2018 SheBelieves Cup and the 2018 Tournament of Nations. For Reign FC, Long has started and played 90 minutes in both of the club’s matches in league play.
U.S. WNT World Cup Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (NC Courage), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit), Allie Long (Reign FC), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage)
FORWARDS (7): Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Utah Royals FC), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit), Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC)
The U.S. Women’s National Team will play three final friendlies in May as it closes in on the start of the Women’s World Cup in France starting June 7.
The U.S. WNT will face South Africa on Sunday, May 12 in Santa Clara, California at 1:30 p.m. PT, before traveling to St. Louis, Missouri to take on New Zealand on Thursday, May 16 at 5:00 p.m. PT. The U.S. caps off the three-match slate against CONCACAF competition, facing Mexico in Harrison, New Jersey on Sunday, May 26 at 9 a.m. PT.
The No. 1-ranked United States has been drawn into Group F with No. 34 Thailand, No. 39 Chile and No. 9 Sweden, who eliminated the U.S. on penalties in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.